The term 'break in hostilities' refers to the end of a TRUCE or THAW and the beginning of WAR. A TRUCE is an agreement between two sides to stop fighting for a period of time, while a THAW is a gradual decrease in tension between two sides. WAR is a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties. In summary, the term 'break in hostilities' refers to the end of a TRUCE or THAW and the start of WAR.